Hydrodynamic high voltage generator



p 14, 1965 o. M: STUETZER 3,206,625

HYDRODYNAMIC HIGH VOLTAGE GENERATOR Filed July 14, 1961 INVENTOR.

OTMAR M. STUETZER i jwim ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,206,625 HYDRODYNAMIC HIGH VOLTAGE GENERATOR Otmar M. Stuetzer, Hopkins, Minn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Litton Systems, Inc., Beverly Hills, Califl, a corporation of Maryland Filed July 14, 1961, Ser. No. 124,084 2 Claims. (Cl. 310-6) This invention relates generally to high voltage generating apparatus, and pertains more particularly to a high voltage generator using a highly insulating liquid by Which ions are transported in order to build up a differ ence in potential between two electrodes.

One object of the invention is to provide a high voltage generator that will have a comparatively high power efliciency. In this regard, previous generators have been constructed in such a manner that charges could build up on an insulating medium in the neighborhood of the electrodes to such an extent that they impede or interfere with the eificient generating of the desired high voltage. The present invention obviates such a happening.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the current fluctuations that have been rather pronounced in the prior art generators that are known to me.

Also, the invention has for an object the construction of a high voltage generator that is very rugged and easily serviced when servicing is needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a generator of the foregoing character that will be self-healing after an occasional breakthrough.

Another object is to provide a high voltage generator that will require no complicated mechanical alignments.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a high voltage generator employing a transport liquid that will be an ideal coolant for high powered devices.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

The single figure that has been presented constitutes one form that my invention may assume, the View being in elevation and partly schematic in character.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the high voltage generator there exemplifying my invention includes an emitter electrode generally designated by the reference numeral 10. In the form that it has been pictured, the emitter 10 comprises a plurality of upstanding needles 12 having rather sharp upper extremities. These needles 12 project upwardly from a metallic plate 14, and for a purpose soon to be made manifest, the plate is formed with a plurality of apertures or openings 16 circumjacent the upstanding needles 12.

Secured to the underside of the plate 14 is a liquid-type housing labelled 18. This housing 18 may be readily attached to the plate 14, e.g., by welding. Leading to the housing 18 is a tube or pipe 20 connected to the discharge side of a liquid pump 22. More will be said hereinafter concerning the role played by the pump 22. However, at this time it can be stated that the pump 22 supplies a highly insulating liquid, such as kerosene or transformer oil, to the housing 18 so that it can then flow upwardly through the openings 16, all in a manner that will be described more fully hereinafter. It will be observed that the tube or pipe 20 passes through a cylindrical skirt 24, which may be of porcelain or like material. The plate 14 of the emitter 10 is supported on the upper edge of the skirt 24 which also serves as an electrical insulator therefor.

3,206,625 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 Closely adjacent the upper ends of the various needles 12 is disposed an auxiliary electrode indicated generally by the reference numeral 26. This electrode 26 includes a plate 28 having a tapering or frusto-conical central portion 30. At the lower end of the tapering portion 30, this being in a' planar relationship with the plate 28, is a grid structure 32. The parts 10 and 26 co-act with each other to form an ionizer. It is important for the proper practicing of the invention, however, that the upper points of the needles 12 be extremely close to the grid structure 32. Actual practice has demonstrated that this is essential in order to provide a very high space charge density during the generating procedure. This spacing can be properly maintained by employing an intermediate cylindrical member 34, also of porcelain or the like inasmuch as a difference of potential must be maintained between the emitter 10 and the auxiliary electrode 26. The difference in potential that is employed will be mentioned later.

Superimposed above the auxiliary electrode 26 is a metallic transport tube 36. Its lower end is in a relatively close or proximal relationship with the upper edge of the tapering portion 30 of the auxiliary electrode 26. The spacing between the upper end of the tapering portion 30 and the lower end of the transport tube 36 is of the order of several centimeters, whereas the spacing between the points on the needles 12 and the grid structure 32 is of the order of only several millimeters.

The metallic transport tube 36 extends upwardly into a metallic hollow sphere 38 which functions as an ion collector electrode, it being contemplated in the pictured instance that the tube 36 will be welded to the sphere 38 at 40. Afiixed to the lower portion of the collector sphere 38 is a cradle member 42. The cradle member 42 has a flange which overlies the upper edge of a housing 44 of porcelain or the like, it being planned that a suitable insulating material be employed which will withstand the high voltage ditferences that will be encountered bgtween the collector 38 and the lower auxiliary electrode 2 The insulating liquid that is forced upwardly through the transport tube 36 is returned to the pump via a plurality of annularly located tubes 46 leading downwardly through the sphere 38 and its underlying cradle member 42. Each tube 46 has connected thereto a tubular element 48, such as rubber, which tubes 48 merge into a single tube or conduit 50 attached to a horizontally directed tube 52. It is the tube 52 that is actually connected to the intake of the pump 22.

While precise voltages and their polarities used for energization purposes are susceptible to variation, nonetheless typical voltages will be given. In this regard, a source of potential 54 is employed which applies a negative potential of, say, minus 5,000 volts to the emitter 10. The positive side of the source 54 is grounded at 58, and it will also be discerned that the auxiliary electrode 26 is likewise grounded at 58. Thus, a dilierence of potential of the order of 5,000 volts exists between the emitter 10 and the auxiliary electrode 26. Owing to the transport of ions upwardly through the transport tube 36, the ions being dispersed in the manner indicated by the various arrows within the sphere 38, a very large negative potential is realized at the surface of the sphere 38. In other words, as already indicated, the sphere 38 acts as a collector for the ions that have been moved upwardly through the tube 36. Accordingly, use is made of the high negative potential that appears on the collector or sphere 38, a conductor being attached to such a sphere 38 at 62. In circuit with the sphere or collector 38 and the source of potential 54 is a load resistor 60 which can constitute a variety of usable instrumentalities. At any rate, the depositing of ions by way of the upwardly flowing insulating liquid provides a negative potential on the order of several hundred thousand volts. This is realized with the intial employment of only a difference in potential of 5,000 volts across the emitter and the auxiliary electrode 26.

Having presented the foregoing information, the manner in which my high voltage generator functions is believed readily apparent. It will be appreciated that the pump 22 furnishes the desired amount of mechanical energy for forcing the insulating liquid through the tube 20, the housing 18, and the openings 16. As the liquid continues upwardly past the needles 12 of the emitter It), electrons are deposited on the various atoms as they flow by in the direction of the grid structure 32. The now negative ions 32 are flushed through the intervening space between the tapering portion 34 and the lower end of the transport tube 36, their path progressing upwardly through the tube. It is of the utmost importance to appreciate that the transport tube 36 is of a conductive material. Previous experience has shown very vividly that where an insulating material is used for the tube 36 that there is a building up of ions along the inner walls of the tube 36 and that these ions, in the present instance considered to be negative, would provide a repelling force for additional ions as they come along. However, with the present invention this does not occur and the eficiency is very much enhanced.

Continuing with the description of the operation or functioning of my generator, it can be discerned that the ions carried by the insulating liquid are discharged from the upper end of the transport tube 36 into the interior of the hollow collector 38. Because of the flow of liquid, these ions are then deposited on the walls of the collector or sphere 38. The ions on the collector 38 build up an appreciable potential differential between the collector and the auxiliary electrode 26. It has already been stated that voltages can be produced having value approximating several hundred thousand volts. Thus, there is experienced a very large increase in voltage over that applied between the emitter ill and the auxiliary electrode 26.

The liquid from the collector or sphere 38 is then returned to the pump 22 for reuse, this being via the various tubes 48 and the tube 52.

From what has herein been said, it is believed readily apparent that a highly efiicient voltage generator has been devised. In realizing this high degree of efficiency, particular attention should be made to the close spacing of the needles 12 with respect to the grid structure 32 for the purpose of creating a space charge of high density. Coupled with the employment of the metallic transport tube 36, this high space charge density is in effect preserved so that it will efliciently deposit the ions on the interior collector 38.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed:

1. A hydrodynamic high voltage generator comprising an ionizer including an emitter electrode and auxiliary electrode closely adjacent thereto, an elongated metallic transport tube having one end disposed near said auxiliary electrode in axial alignment with said electrodes, a hollow collector electrode spaced from said ionizer and into which the other end of said transport tube projects, means for circulating an insulating liquid through said ionizer, said transport tube and said collector, and means for applying one potential difference between the electrodes of said ionizer whereby a larger difference in potential is produced between said ionizer and said collector electrode.

2. A high voltage generator in accordance with claim 1 in which said emitter electrode is provided with a plurality of needles and said auxiliary electrode is provided with a grid structure in a prox mal relation with the pointed ends of said needles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,217 7/40 Landerholm 310-5 2,308,884 1/43 Lindenblad 3105 MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HYDRODYNAMIC HIGH VOLTAGE GENERATOR COMPRISING AN IONIZER INCLUDING AN EMITTER ELECTRODE AND AUXILIARY ELECTRODE CLOSELY ADJACENT THERETO, AN ELONGATED METALLIC TRANSPORT TUBE HAVING ONE END DISPOSED NEAR SAID AUXILIARY ELECTRODE IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ELECTRODES, A HOLLOW COLLECTORO ELECTRODE SPACED FROM SAID IONIZER AND INTO WHICH THE OTHER END OF SAID TRANSPORT TUBE PROJECTS, MEANS FOR CIRCULATING AN INSULATING LIQUID THROUGH SAID IONIZER, 